The Land of Birds.
The Akatsuki truly moved with remarkable efficiency.
Only a few days after Kakuzu's departure, Yuuma once again received a report from an elite Uzumaki shinobi.
"Lord Yuuma, another powerful chakra signature has appeared near the capital of the Land of Birds. This one is even stronger than the last."
"So they've come this quickly..."
Yuuma muttered inwardly as he activated his Byakugan.
Within his vision stood another figure wearing the black cloak decorated with red clouds. He had orange hair and strange black piercings covering his face.
"So this time, it's Pain—the Deva Path himself."
With a single movement, Yuuma vanished from the base.
Near the capital of the Land of Birds.
The Deva Path turned his head as a lone figure approached across the open plains.
Black hair.
White robes.
Pure white eyes.
A handsome young man who looked no older than fourteen or fifteen.
There wasn't even a scratched forehead protector on his forehead—it was completely bare.
"So he doesn't even wear a forehead protector anymore... He has completely severed his ties with his village."
That thought crossed Pain's mind as he walked forward.
"Mr. Yuuma, pardon the intrusion."
Pain was the first to greet him, his voice as emotionless as ever.
Yuuma answered with his trademark smile.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're the leader of Kakuzu's organization."
Pain nodded.
"Our organization is called the Akatsuki. I am its leader, Pain. Our goal is to bring everlasting peace to the shinobi world and put an end to every conflict."
Yuuma smiled faintly.
"Kakuzu should have already told you that I'm not interested in your ideals."
"It makes no difference."
Pain's tone remained perfectly calm.
"Among the members of the Akatsuki, only one truly shares my ideals."
"I see."
Yuuma chuckled.
"So your members don't have to think like you. As long as they can be useful to you, that's enough. Is that your philosophy?"
Pain answered without hesitation.
"Of course, it would be better if we pursued the same goal. But even if our objectives differ, cooperating for mutual benefit is still a worthwhile arrangement."
His purple Rinnegan revealed no emotion.
His voice sounded almost mechanical as he spoke those words without the slightest attempt to conceal them.
Even if someone joined the Akatsuki solely to use him...
As long as that person could also serve his goals, Pain simply didn't care.
He looked directly at Yuuma.
"Then tell me, Mr. Yuuma. What path do you seek? A person who lives without an ideal is little different from a walking corpse. What is it that you pursue?"
"Power."
Yuuma answered without the slightest hesitation.
"Power?"
Pain gave a small nod.
"That's an excellent answer. In that case, you truly should join the Akatsuki. What we seek is the greatest power in this world."
"The greatest power?"
Yuuma smiled.
"You mean using overwhelming strength to intimidate the great villages into abandoning war, thereby achieving peace?"
"Correct."
Pain continued.
"Our objective is to capture the nine Tailed Beasts scattered throughout the shinobi world. Once we possess them all, we will command the greatest power that exists."
Yuuma slowly shook his head.
"Unfortunately... that's not the kind of power I'm after."
"I seek power that belongs to me alone—not borrowed from something else."
Pain paused briefly before nodding again.
"I understand."
"If that's the power you seek, then I have little I can offer."
Yuuma's smile widened.
"Those eyes of yours... If I'm not mistaken, they're the legendary Rinnegan."
"You are surprisingly knowledgeable, Mr. Yuuma. Very few people can recognize these eyes."
"I come from a clan renowned for its dōjutsu."
Yuuma smiled.
"It would be strange if I couldn't recognize the Sage's legendary eyes."
"Since you possess the Rinnegan, then I assume you've also mastered Yin-Yang Release."
Even Pain seemed mildly surprised.
"You even know about that?"
"The Hyūga Clan truly has preserved remarkable knowledge over its thousand-year history."
"I've always enjoyed studying ancient secrets."
Yuuma's expression remained relaxed.
"So you should already know what I'm after."
Pain fell silent for a moment before slowly shaking his head.
"The secret techniques of Yin-Yang Release cannot be traded."
"Ask for something else."
Yuuma smiled calmly.
"There's no need to refuse so quickly, Mr. Pain."
"I'm not asking for your secret techniques."
"What I want... is your understanding of Yin-Yang Release itself."
Techniques and secret arts formed the very foundation of a shinobi's strength.
Once another person understood them, they could exploit those weaknesses in battle.
Pain's Yin-Yang Release techniques were unique throughout the shinobi world.
Naturally, he would never hand them over to anyone else.
But beyond techniques themselves...
The most valuable thing was one's understanding of the elemental transformation and its principles.
To Yuuma, that knowledge was even more precious than the techniques themselves.
"So you intend to obtain knowledge of Yin-Yang Release's nature and cultivate it through training?"
Pain immediately saw through Yuuma's intentions.
"Impossible."
"Abandon such an unrealistic ambition."
From Pain's perspective—as someone who truly possessed Yin-Yang Release—the idea was nothing more than wishful thinking.
A shinobi could develop elemental transformations they hadn't been born with.
They could even create Bloodline Limits through training.
Storm Release of Kumogakure...
Lava Release and Explosion Release of Iwagakure...
Magnet Release of Sunagakure...
Even Mei Terumi's Lava Release and Boil Release had all been cultivated after birth.
Ōnoki's Dust Release, a Bloodline Selection that combined three chakra natures, had likewise been achieved through training rather than inheritance.
Even Mu, the Second Tsuchikage who created Dust Release, had developed it entirely on his own.
If Bloodline Limits and even Bloodline Selection could be acquired through training...
Then, theoretically, Yin-Yang Release should also be attainable by combining Yin Release and Yang Release.
But Pain, as someone who actually wielded Yin-Yang Release, knew better than anyone how impossible that idea truly was.
It simply could not be done.
Even now, if his Rinnegan were removed...
He would instantly lose the power of Yin-Yang Release.
Someone who had once possessed that power didn't believe he could recreate it through training.
How could someone who had never even experienced it hope to do so?
Yin-Yang Release was fundamentally different.
Yuuma wasn't discouraged in the slightest.
He had expected this response long ago.
"Mr. Pain..."
"In my eyes, your dream of bringing eternal peace to the shinobi world is even more impossible than my own."
"If you're willing to dedicate your life to pursuing your dream..."
"What reason do I have to abandon mine?"
He smiled confidently.
"For me, there is only this one path."
"Whether I succeed or fail..."
"I'll walk it to the very end."
To become a warrior on the level of the Sage of Six Paths...
Mastering Yin-Yang Release was absolutely essential.
There was no other road.
Pain answered in his usual indifferent tone.
"If your resolve is that strong..."
"Then I won't try to persuade you otherwise."
"I accept your request."
"I will provide you with information regarding the nature and principles of Yin-Yang Release."
"But there's one condition."
"You must first make contributions worthy of the Akatsuki."
"Deal."
Yuuma agreed immediately, a genuine smile appearing on his face.
Nagato was a man whose word could be trusted.
Had Obito made the same promise instead...
Yuuma wouldn't have believed him for a second.
Working for the Akatsuki in exchange for research on Yin-Yang Release...
That was a bargain that unquestionably favored him.
"Then..."
Pain extended his hand.
"Welcome to the Akatsuki."
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